Walter Schirra

astronaut

Died:May 3, 2007
(San Diego, California)

Best Known as:astronaut in three of NASA's earliest manned space
programs

The only astronaut to fly in all three of NASA’s earliest manned
space programs. He was one of the original Mercury Seven astronauts, and
the third American to orbit the earth in October 1962. His final mission
was in October 1968 when he commanded Apollo 7 in a quest to land men on
the moon. The Apollo 7 crew provided the first televised pictures from an
American spacecraft. Captain Schirra logged more than 295 hours in space,
and specialized in developing life-support systems for the Mercury
astronauts.